Burial Ground — Brosna West

Brosna church (KE032-008001-) and graveyard surveyed in 2007 and described by Buckley and Dunne (2007) as follows; 'Brosna West graveyard is located at the centre of Brosna village, immediately south of the square and southeast of the existing church, St Moling’s Roman Catholic Church. There are extensive views to the west, south and southeast of the graveyard while views to the north are restricted by existing buildings. The interior of the graveyard slopes gently from north to south. The existing church and graveyard are associated with St. Moling’s Well [KE032-009----] which is situated to the southeast. Large enclosure [KE032-008003-] which is evident on the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps and which is most likely associated with one of the early churches at Brosna. The remains of the church does not survive above ground today. However, evidence of two other structures was recorded within the boundary wall. The boundary walls of the graveyard reflect the circularity of the original boundary KE032-008:03 which is evident on the 1st edition OS map 1842. The graveyard is bounded by a sandstone and shale wall with irregular coping. The boundary wall is generally in good condition but several phases of repair are evident along the northwestern section which faces onto the Square. The southeastern and eastern sides of the wall display evidence of additional courses as the interior of the graveyard has been raised considerably over time. This is very obvious in the southern area where the height of the original wall can be identified through the presence of coping, on top of which several layers of stone have been laid. Access and egress to the graveyard is gained through two sandstone piers with forward pointed render. A modern cast iron gate is set between the piers while a modern turnstile gate is located to the immediate west of the entrance. While the majority of inscribed headstones are of a modern construct, the 18th and 19th centuries are also well represented in the graveyard. The earliest date was 1771 and recorded the death of Mai Lean. The inscription is in a very good sate of preservation. A single cross slab was recorded. A simple cross is engraved on a piece of worked sandstone. This was located in the northeastern area of the graveyard and may be related to the early phases of the Brosna Church and Graveyard. One architectural fragment was recorded. This was identified on the exterior of the southern boundary wall. It comprises of a punch dressed, rectangular shaped fragment of sandstone'. Folklore collected from Brosna School recorded the following details; 'In the Brosna graveyard there is a flagstone over Fr Shine's grave. At the bottom is a little cutting (diagram) in which water lodges. If people come here early in the morning and rub the water for 9 mornings it is a cure for eye sores and stys. Nellie ODonnell (aged 99 years) brought some of her children here and had their eyes cured' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0449, Page 267; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4713225/4709234). See attached photographs, courtesy of Laurence Dunne Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Laurence Dunne. Date of upload: 15 April 2022